A Guide to Christian Rehab Centers

Nobody ever intends to become an addict. However, no matter how cautious a person might be, the disease of addiction is a predator lying in wait. According to recent estimates, about one in ten Americans over the age of 12 currently suffers from a substance abuse problem, making today’s addiction rates the worst in recorded history. People from all walks of life are losing their health, their jobs, their families, and their faith to this all-consuming disease. And while those who become addicted to alcohol and drugs experience profound physical, psychological, and spiritual suffering, each addict’s loved ones suffer as well. When introduced into a family unit, addiction creates mistrust and discord, worry and resentment, disrupting close relationships and depleting a family’s communication, peace, and togetherness.

For anyone who suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction, there are a variety of resources available that can be used to help a person regain mental and physical wellness and spiritual wholeness. Every addict’s needs are different, which is why there are a wide variety of substance abuse treatment modalities and approaches. However, with the majority of the American population—at least 83 percent, according to recent estimates—there’s naturally going to be significant need for faith-based substance abuse treatments offered by Christian rehab centers. But the wealth of Christian treatment options creates another problem: How do you narrow down the countless Christian rehabs to one that best address a person’s specific needs?

Choosing the Christian rehab with programming that fits your specific needs can be an extremely confusing, daunting process. There are so many options available and so much unclear jargon being used with no comprehensive resources available to help people choose the right Christian rehabs. That’s why Ocean Breeze Recovery has created this informative guide, which breaks the process of finding the best Christian substance abuse treatment facility down into understandable and easy-to-follow steps while providing the information that’s necessary for you to choose the Christian rehab you need.

If you find yourself confused or in need of more clarification at any point in this guide, simply call Ocean Breeze Recovery at 855-960-5341 and one of our recovery specialists will gladly answer any questions you might have.

Recognizing You Have an Alcohol or Drug Problem

Determining whether you have a substance abuse problem is the easy part, right? Well, not necessarily. The line between substance abuse and addiction can be a bit fuzzy, making it difficult to distinguish chemical dependency from chemical abuse. Although both substance abusers and addicts can benefit from receiving treatment at a Christian alcohol or drug rehab, recognizing whether you or a loved one is a substance abuser or an addict is an important part of choosing the right form of treatment. Fortunately, there a number of behaviors and characteristics that can be used to help distinguish substance abusers from those who have become addicted.

When a person is a substance abuser, the individual’s substance abuse has not yet been a major imposition on other aspects of life. They continue going to work and fulfilling their other responsibilities while only using mind-altering substances during their downtime. By comparison, someone who has become addicted to alcohol or drugs will quickly become unable to meet many of their obligations. They often exhibit reduced performance and attendance at work and become generally unreliable. Additionally, addicts become very easily stressed and overwhelmed, particularly when they are sober. They might even try to use this as an excuse to indulge in substance abuse.

Emotionally, an addict becomes very erratic and unpredictable. People who are addicted to alcohol or drugs tend to exhibit very sudden and seemingly unprovoked mood swings, often going from one extreme to another such as being happy and suddenly becoming sad or angry. It’s also quite common for addicts to become stressed by things that wouldn’t cause much stress for others; due to using alcohol or drugs to cope with more and more trivial stressors, addicts become virtually unable to deal with any level of adversity without resorting to intoxicants.

In addition to the physical and emotional effects, there are also spiritual signs that a person has become addicted. The first of these signs is when the person starts to distance him or herself from the activities that are associated with his or her faith. For instance, an addict will begin attending church services less and less frequently. There will also be a general lack of interest in any sort of religious events. Generally, when Christians become addicted to alcohol or drugs there’s a growing sense of guilt. They distance themselves from their religious practices because they remind these individuals of how disconnected from God and Christianity that they’ve become. And with alcohol or drug use becoming an increasingly central part of a Christian addict’s life, he or she begins to feel unable to relate to most of the people in his or her life, including friends and other members of the individual’s congregation. It’s almost as if the addict is ashamed and, therefore, is avoiding the people, places, and circumstances that would compound that shame.

The family members of a Christian addict will likely notice that the individual has become more withdrawn and unparticipative in the family. After becoming addicted, a person may even begin to avoid loved ones for fear that they may recognize chemical dependency in some way. Shutting one’s family out may alert them to the presence of a problem, but the idea is that they won’t be able to determine what the problem actually is. When asked probing questions, an addict is quick to become defensive and angry, often deflecting instead of actually answering any of the questions.

Over time, the individual will begin exhibiting behaviors that are very uncharacteristic of him or her. In many cases, this will involve dishonesty, lying about where he or she has been or what he or she was going. There will even be occasions when the individual lies about things that he or she has no logical reason to lie about, even things for which being truthful wouldn’t get him or her into any sort of trouble. To the family, it seems that the person is frequently dishonest for no other reason than because he or she can. Meanwhile, other very uncharacteristic behaviors will likely be observed. For most people who have become addicted, there an increase in risk-taking and recklessness, which results from an alcohol or drug problem making an addict feel as though things that he or she used to think were dangerous are actually less dangerous than they’re made out to be. Alternately, being under the influence much of the time may make them think that they’re invincible.

In most cases, people who develop addictions soon distance themselves from their social groups. This tends to happen when the addict’s friends don’t abuse alcohol or drugs themselves. Instead of maintaining these friendships and dealing with their disapproval, an addict will typically leave that social circle in favor of one that consists of alcohol and drug users. An abrupt social shift is most apparent when it seems the individual is no longer associating with the people who had previously been his or her very close friends. Although there are many reasons why a person might change his or her social group, the sudden and seemingly inexplicable ending of multiple friendships—especially when the person is exhibiting other signs of a substance abuse problem—is oftentimes a cause for concern.

There’s also another very common behavior among households in which a family member has become addicted: Stealing. As addicts get deeper into substance abuse, sustaining an alcohol or drug habit requires more and more of one’s income. Once the individual has no more money that can be put toward substance abuse, he or she will often turn to untoward behaviors to get more money. This all too frequently means that an addict will resort to stealing and theft. In fact, an addict’s loved ones are often the victims of this thievery, finding that their money or valuables have suddenly come up missing. However, over time this desperate behavior will usually escalate until the addict becomes willing to break into homes, rob strangers, or even steal from stores in order to supplement their substance abuse fund. This is actually one of the primary reasons why addicts commonly face criminal charges and jail time. While this level of criminal behavior tends to be most common among people who have been addicted to alcohol or drugs for a length of time, it’s important to be aware that addiction is a likely explanation if members of a family begin having money and other valuables go missing.

People who become addicted to alcohol or drugs tend to have a difficult time maintaining employment. Even people who have spent years developing and establishing their careers have lost it all due to a substance abuse problem. Whether it’s because of poorer performance, increasing absences, being intoxicated on the job, or failed drug screens, those who become addicted are typically unable to keep their jobs or get really good jobs. Because of their chemical dependence, they’re often limited to minimum-wage positions and working for companies that don’t screen applicants for substance abuse.

Further Reading

What is a Christian Rehab Center for Substance Abuse?

When most people think of treatment for alcoholism and drug addiction, they often imagine the sterile, clinical rehabs in which the patients receive an extensive amount of psychotherapy. While it’s true that psychotherapy and counseling often serve as a significant component of addiction recovery programs, there’s much more to it than simply counseling. In fact, there are a wide variety of treatment approaches, intended to address a very wide variety of patient needs. With the majority of Americans identifying themselves as Christians, it follows that there would be a great need for Christian rehabs and other recovery resources for Christians.

However, calling a treatment facility a “Christian rehab” doesn’t really convey what that rehab can offer Christians who are suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. That is why we now shift our focus to the explanation of what a Christian rehab center is and what types of addiction treatments that Christian rehab centers can offer you or your addicted loved one.

Christian Detox Program

As a disease, addiction is unique in that it’s at once physical, psychological, and spiritual. This is what has made the treatment of addiction so complicated since there are many techniques that can be used, but they tend to only address one aspect of the disease. Therefore, addiction recovery is often broken down into a series of steps and, for many people, the first step of the process is detoxification.

Not every single addiction requires detox treatment, but it’s recommended to most people who are entering recovery. Substances like alcohol, opioids, and benzodiazepines are known to cause an intense physical dependency, which means that someone addicted to one of these substances will experience intense withdrawal if he or she were to abruptly cease substance abuse. In fact, these withdrawal symptoms are one of the primary reasons why addicts fear the recovery process, but detoxification doesn’t have to be a painful or unpleasant experience.

Detoxification is a process through which a person’s body is cleansed of alcohol, drugs, and any other toxins or substances that prohibit a state of optimal physical health. Therefore, the goal of a Christian detox program is to help you to break the physical dependence you’ve had on alcohol or drugs by cleansing your body. Christian detox treatment is designed to make patients as comfortable and relaxed as possible during the process, which is possible with continuous, 24-hour supervision and personal care. Through a combination of hydration, nutrition, and medication—mild benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, or sedatives, which help you to relax and aid with sleeping—you will progress through detoxification and achieve a state of physical wellness and stability.

Christian detox treatment takes an average of 7 to 10 days, but any patient’s detox could potentially require more or less time than average. Everyone is different and recoveries as his or her own pace, so the main objective of Christian detox programs is to help reach the point of no longer being physically dependent on alcohol or drugs. After completing a Christian detox program, you’ll be ready to transition into a form of Christian addiction treatment.

Christian Inpatient Rehab

There are several different types of Christian treatment programs for substance abuse and addiction, but inpatient rehab is the most effective and intensive form of treatment for Christian addicts. Christian inpatient rehab refers to a program in which a patient lives on-site at the facility for the duration of the program, which offers a number of benefits over forms of outpatient treatment.

However, what’s unique about Christian inpatient rehabs compared to other rehabs is the Christ-focused approach to addiction recovery. At a Christian rehab, inpatient programs consist of clinical, evidence-based treatments and therapies combined with the philosophy and teachings of scripture. This form of treatment has proven to be especially empowering as patients are able to derive an added level of strength from God, which would not be available in programs that lack a Christian approach. After spending an extended period of time in active addiction and feeling profound guilt and shame, patients are quickly able to feel God’s love, unconditional acceptance, and forgiveness, helping them to heal and begin forgiving themselves. Moreover, patients in Christian inpatient rehab can begin to extend that love and forgiveness to others such as people who have wronged them.

In addition to the emphasis on Christian values and ideals, Christian inpatient rehabs provide patients with a safe, alcohol- and drug-free environment in which to adjust to sobriety. Since a person’s social group and environment are often contributors to the development of an addiction, separation from those peers and environments eliminate the possibility that they’ll interfere with the recovery until such a time as the patient can resist that temptation. Moreover, an inpatient Christian rehab affords individuals with round-the-clock care and supervision as well as much more time in which to receive treatments. Typically, a Christian inpatient rehab consists of individual counseling, group therapy, relapse prevention training, and a number of other possible supplements; however, Christian rehabs also usually offer religious services, Bible study groups, and other such activities.

Most Christian inpatient programs last between one and three months, but longer-term inpatient and residential programs can be much longer than that, such as from six months to a year. The length of a patient’s Christian inpatient program is usually determined during the intake process and depends on things like the substance of abuse, length of time spent in active addiction, whether there’s a family history of addiction, and some other factors.

Christian Partial Hospitalization Program

Although inpatient treatment is considered the most effective form of treatment, it’s naturally not going to be the optimal treatment solution for everyone. Many people are hesitant to enroll in inpatient treatment, either because they’re intimidated by the prospect of residential treatment or because other commitments—an unforgiving work or school schedule, being a parent or a caretaker—that prohibit them from being away at rehab for an extended period of time. However, anyone who’s unable to go to an inpatient Christian rehab while wanting the intensive level of treatment that inpatient rehab offers can choose a Christian partial hospitalization program.

A Christian partial hospitalization program is an attempt to offer the best of both worlds by combining features of both inpatient and outpatient programs. Specifically, partial hospitalization programs for Christian addicts consist of almost the same level of treatment intensity as an inpatient program, but in the form of an outpatient program. This means that patients don’t live on-site during treatment and, instead, are able to commute to and from the Christian rehab. For anyone whose obligations and responsibilities prohibit an extended absence, Christian partial hospitalization rehab could be an ideal solution.

Typically, a partial hospitalization program for Christian addicts takes place between five and six days per week for between five and six hours each day, although this can vary slightly depending on the facility. Partial hospitalization care still represents a pretty significant time commitment, but with more flexibility than inpatient treatment. In terms of the curriculum, a Christian partial hospitalization program offers much the same Christ-centered approach and incorporates scripture and Christian ideals into the recovery process; additionally, patients will participate in individual counseling, psychoeducational group sessions, relapse prevention training, and skills-building sessions. Like inpatient care, Christian partial hospitalization programs emphasize identifying the spiritual and emotional deficits that caused a person to become addicted in the first place, helping him or her to establish a stronger connection with God while arming the individual with practical skills and strategies that will allow him or her to remain abstinent after returning to the community.

Christian Intensive Outpatient Program

Some addictions are less severe than others. While that doesn’t make them much less dangerous or destructive, it can potentially mean that such an addiction wouldn’t require treatment of inpatient-level intensity. For addicted Christians who are otherwise in good physical health, don’t suffer from any comorbid disorders, and have a safe, supportive, temptation-free home environment, a Christian intensive outpatient program (IOP) could be a great recovery option.

In short, an intensive outpatient program is a small step down from partial hospitalization in terms of treatment intensity. Like Christian inpatient and partial hospitalization care, Christian intensive outpatient programs incorporate scripture and Christian ideals into the traditional, clinical addiction treatment curriculum. This type of treatment program usually takes place three or four days per week for approximately four hours each day. As such, intensive outpatient programs for Christians represent the most flexible treatment option that offers more than basic-level treatment intensity. In fact, many Christian rehabs will coordinate a patient’s intensive outpatient treatments around his or her work schedule or familial obligations.

Additionally, many individuals use intensive outpatient programs in combination with inpatient and other forms of programming. For instance, a patient who enrolls in and completes a Christian inpatient program may choose to immediately follow inpatient treatment with partial hospitalization or intensive outpatient treatment. This allows recovering addicts the opportunity to extend their treatment periods and the structure of rehab as they return home or transition into a sober living facility. Many find this preferable to immediately returning home after rehab without any form of continued treatment. In effect, it’s like the individual can continue to receive treatment while adjusting to being back in his or her home environment. As such, intensive outpatient programs are an optimal choice for use with other programs.

Christian Outpatient Care

For those with mild addictions and a very stable, supportive home environment, Christian outpatient care could be all that’s needed. While inpatient care entails residency at the facility, outpatient care is on the other end of the spectrum and allows patients to commute to their Christian rehabs for each day’s treatments. However, Christian outpatient care is most effective for those who are very dedicated to their recoveries and determined to have a positive outcome. Outpatient care for Christian addicts is tends to be recommended to first-timers who have never been in a treatment program before and who have only been addicted for a short period of time.

As is the case with other forms of Christian treatment, Christian outpatient programs have a strong focus on the ideals and philosophies of Christ as well as in incorporating scripture into traditional addiction treatments. With outpatient care offering far fewer hours of treatment than other types of rehabilitation programs, Christian outpatient care will typically entail group sessions and relapse prevention training from a Christian perspective, emphasizing the importance of establishing a strong relationship with God and with utilizing one’s family and congregation as a source of support and inspiration.

Outpatient care for Christians can be shorter in duration such as one- to two-month programs, but there is also longer-term Christian outpatient care such as Christian support programs and community-based offerings.

Financial Aspects of Christian Substance Abuse Treatment

Those who become addicted to alcohol or drugs must become ready for recovery on their own. While in active addiction, there are a number of concerns addicts have that make them hesitant or resistant of the recovery process, one of which is the financial aspect or the cost of treatment. The perception is that a quality, effective addiction treatment is going to cost much more than the individual is willing or able to pay. However, that is no longer the case. Due to recent legislation, there is more flexibility with regard to the financial component of recovery. Anyone in need of Christian substance abuse treatment can either pay out-of-pocket, have their private or government health insurance plans cover treatment, find scholarships and grant for treatment, or look into taking out a loan.

Paying for Treatment Out-of-Pocket

The most obvious—and least desirable—option is to pay for treatment out-of-pocket. However, there are many Christian drug rehabs that offer flexible payment options or a sliding scale, which adjusts the cost of treatment based on a patient’s ability to pay.

Treatment Covered by Health Insurance

Ever since the Affordable Care and Patient Protection Act (ACA), substance abuse treatment has been included in the essential benefits covered by the majority of private and government health insurance plans. As such, anyone who has some form of health insurance is likely able to have their Christian addiction treatments either paid for, either in full or the majority of it.

Scholarships and Grants

Many don’t know this, but there are actually scholarships and grants intended specifically to pay for addiction treatment. There are some at the state level and it’s common for treatment centers to offer scholarships and grants to incoming patients who can demonstrate the need. The great thing about scholarships and grants is not having to pay them back.

Loans That Cover the Cost of Treatment

In addition to scholarships and grants, there’s also the possibility of taking out a loan to cover the cost of treatment. This may seem like the least desirable route to go, but there are actually a number of lenders whose loans are specifically for people going to rehab. As such, they offer great rates, oftentimes don’t require the first payment until after you’ve been out of rehab for a while, and a number of other perks that make them a competitive, viable option.

FAQs When Choosing a Christian Treatment Center

We’ve compiled a lot of information in this guide to choosing a Christian rehab, including how to identify addiction, distinguishing different types of Christian addiction treatments, and defining the rehab payment options that are available. However, when it comes time to choose your Christian treatment center, here are five specific questions that many people have and that will help you to choose the best rehab for your specific needs.

Are luxury Christian rehabs more effective than a standard Christian rehab?

While it’s true that luxury Christian rehabs have more to offer, they’re not necessarily more effective. With a luxury facility, the difference is mostly with regard to the accommodations. Patients often have private rooms with private bathrooms, TVs, and luxurious furnishings. However, the treatments that are most beneficial for addiction recovery will be much the same at luxury rehabs and all other rehabs.

Is a Christian inpatient program out of the question if I’m trying to keep my job?

This is a very common misconception. Many people in need of treatment assume that inpatient treatment isn’t an option because it would require an extended absence from work that they wouldn’t want to explain. However, there are options available that can help in most instances. For instance, most major companies offer employee assistance programs (EAPs), which allow employees to take a leave of absence while they complete a treatment program without their direct bosses or supervisors being the wiser. There’s also the Family and Medical Leave Act, which is legislation that gives employees the right to take an unpaid leave of absence to take care of family or personal emergencies. Moreover, there’s the possibility of using vacation time to go to rehab as well as executive rehab centers, which offer inpatient programs that allow patients to remain a presence at work through the use of the internet and webcams.

How much does treatment at a Christian rehab cost?

The cost of a Christian addiction treatment program can be extremely affordable or cost tens of thousands of dollars. For the most part, the cost of a program depends on the features offered by the Christian rehab, which might include close proximity to desirable locales like the beach or having luxury services for patients. However, there are Christian rehabs available to fit just about any budget.

Will I be allowed to see my family while I’m in rehab?

Going to rehab isn’t like going to prison. You’ll not be forced to part with your family until you’ve completed treatment. The number of times you’ll see your loved ones mostly depends on whether you choose to attend a rehab that’s close to home—meaning that can easily travel to and from your rehab—or one that’s too far away for them to visit. And while they likely won’t be able to simply drop by whenever they want, there’s always ample time allotted to patients for visitation with loved ones.

If I work really hard, can I finish a Christian treatment program faster?

Recovery isn’t like most other tasks for which the harder you work, the quicker you can get finished. It’s always a good idea to give your recovery 110 percent, but that won’t allow you to, for example, complete a 90-day program in half the time. If you enroll in a 90-day program, you’ll finish that program in 90 days no matter how hard you work. But again, it’s always a good idea to try your best as it’ll mean having a better chance of achieving indefinite sobriety.

Addiction is a very serious disease that has destroyed countless lives and claimed many, many more. Fortunately, there are a number of programs and other recovery resources available that afford anyone who has become addicted with the means of regaining their health and happiness. Living in a state of active addiction causes you to drift further and further away from your loved ones and puts your relationship with God in jeopardy, but God will never give up on your. And neither will we.

If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction and needing to find a Christian rehab for treatment, Ocean Breeze Recovery is here to help. We believe that anyone has the ability to overcome the physical, psychological, and spiritual effects of addiction as long as they’re provided with the right resources. At Ocean Breeze Recovery, we match Christian addicts to the forms of treatment they need to become sober and live lives of meaning and fulfillment. To take the first steps toward your new life, call Ocean Breeze Recovery at 855-960-5341 for a free consultation.